Beyond the initial training, what ongoing support does a franchisor provide?

Brian Duckett writes:

The various types of support, and the quality and amount thereof, will vary greatly from system to system.

The franchisor’s job is to enable each of its franchisees to build a stable and successful business.

Whether that business is a one-man band or a multi-unit food service outlet, the franchisee needs to know how to get customers, how to properly provide the relevant services to those customers, how to make sure the finances and administration of the business are under control and how to regularly review performance and plan improvements.

In the early days of a franchisor business, which is still being run by the founder, there will be very little support because it will be too busy trying to recruit more franchisees. There should be a manual that gives some information and there may well be some telephone support, but that will be it.

Compare that with an established franchisor, which may by now have a management team or can afford to outsource to franchise consultants with expertise in all areas of the business, and you’ll see that a far greater width and depth of support will be available.

Most franchises fall somewhere between the two and the best way to check whether their level of support is sufficient is to ask existing franchisees.

Brian Duckett is chairman of The Franchising Centre, part of the world’s largest network of specialist franchise consultants.